First Thought Care Services reduces admin workload and achieves 99% shift fulfilment in just one week.
1 week
99%
2
Reduced
First Thought Care Services delivers specialist care and support for children and adults with additional needs and challenging behaviours. Operating across two care services in Hereford and Gloucester, the organisation focuses on delivering safe, compliant, and responsive care while maintaining efficient day-to-day staffing operations.
The challenge
First Thought Care Services needed a workforce management solution that could quickly streamline their agency staffing processes and reduce administrative workload.
Staffing gaps caused by holidays and sickness required rapid response, but existing processes made it difficult to fill shifts efficiently. Manual workflows increased administrative pressure and made it harder to maintain cost control when relying on external agencies.
As a growing care provider, the leadership team recognised the importance of implementing a reliable and scalable workforce solution that would support daily operations while maintaining compliance and quality standards.
After attending a supplier event in May 2024, Chief Executive Officer Jack Cook identified the opportunity to introduce a modern workforce management system that could deliver immediate time savings and operational improvements.
The organisation required a system that was:
- Easy to use for daily staffing tasks
- Quick to implement
- Capable of supporting business growth
- Reliable for managing urgent staffing gaps
- Fully compliant with regulatory standards
How Care Hires helped
Care Hires implemented its workforce management platform at speed, ensuring that First Thought Care Services could transition quickly without disrupting operations.
The full platform setup and staff training were completed within one week, allowing teams to immediately begin managing staffing requirements through a single, centralised system.
This rapid implementation enabled staff to post shifts quickly, manage agency coverage more efficiently, and reduce time spent coordinating staffing manually.
The platform introduced improved visibility into worker availability and profiles, allowing managers to make informed decisions when selecting staff. This ensured consistent delivery of high-quality care and maintained compliance with regulatory expectations.
Care Hires also supported First Thought Care Services in reviewing their existing agency usage. New agency relationships were secured at lower hourly rates, helping to reduce overall staffing costs while improving workforce reliability.
With the new system in place, First Thought Care Services gained the ability to respond quickly to unexpected staffing changes and maintain consistent service delivery across all locations.
The results
Following the implementation of the Care Hires platform, First Thought Care Services achieved immediate operational improvements and measurable performance outcomes.
The organisation successfully transitioned to the new system in just one week, enabling teams to rapidly adopt new workflows and begin realising efficiency benefits.
Shift coverage improved significantly, reaching 99% shift fulfilment, ensuring staffing reliability across both locations.
Key results included:
- Reduced administrative workload across staffing operations
- Faster shift placement and improved response to urgent staffing needs
- Removal of expensive agency reliance through better supplier selection
- Secured new agencies offering lower hourly rates
- Improved compliance through use of fully vetted and qualified staff
- Greater visibility into workforce availability and staffing activity
- Improved confidence in maintaining CQC compliance standards
These improvements allowed First Thought Care Services to focus more on delivering quality care while reducing time spent managing administrative processes.
